Episode 49

Xero’s Secrets of Accounting Firm & Small Business Growth

Glen Foster

Glen Foster has been working with accountants and small businesses for almost 15 years. As Xero UK employee number 6, he has seen a major shift in the adoption of cloud accounting and associated tools over the last 9 years and learnt a lot of lessons along the way.

With a passion for technology and the impact that can have on professional services and small businesses. Glen takes a particular interest in how new technology can help accounting firms streamline compliance, improve client’s cashflow and maximise Xero’s partner apps. Shownotes:

  • How accountants can deliver world class experience and add real value to their clients
  • Insight into the Instafile acquisition and how it will free up valuable time for accountants
  • Three activities that the digital savvy firms do every day to enhance client relationships
  • Explore the elephant in the room – Making Tax Digital (MTD)
  • Why identifying key skills within the accountancy firm is key to enhancing client relationships
  • How the Xero platform can help clients get paid faster and raise funding
  • Tools and techniques to help accountants differentiate themselves from the competition
  • Utilising Xero’s resources to identify and recruit great talent
  • Why the fastest growing accountancy firms talk to their clients on average every 30 minutes

'#Accounting firms that typically grow faster talk to their clients more often. The fastest growing firms talk to their clients on average every half an hour' says @glen_foster #accountex #AccountingTop100 #accountinginsight

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  • Key facets within a practice where digital can add value
  • How to take control of the digital transition to avoid hitting a brick wall
  • Key steps accountancy practices can take towards becoming fully digital
  • Why the UK accountancy market is ripe for disruption and how it’s being revolutionised
  • Great technology is available to the masses, no longer the preserve of large businesses.
  • What separates the good accounts from the great accountants
  • Upcoming challenges for accountants in practice and why uncertainty breeds opportunity.

 

'Half of businesses in the UK are not cash flow positive.' says #accounting tech advocate and small business expert @glen_foster from @Xero) #accountancy #accountex #AccountingTop100 #accountinginsight

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Glen Foster on the BD Academy Accounting Influencers podcast with Rob Brown

 

Outside of work, Glen is an avid Crystal Palace football supporter and fan of Northampton Saints rugby. He’s also a keen cyclist and over-competitive table tennis player in the Xero office. Find out more at XERO or to contact Glen directly:

Twitter: @glen_foster

Glen on LinkedIn

Liked your Accounting Influencers Interview with Rob Brown" target="_blank">email him directly>>

 

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About the Podcast

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Accounting Voices Podcast
Accounting Voices helps people in the accounting world stay relevant visible and vocal. Host Rob Brown interprets trends reshaping the profession and gives listeners insight to build authority influence and a stronger voice in firms and markets.

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Rob Brown

Rob Brown is the founder and host of the Accounting Voices Podcast, the flagship solo show of the Accounting Voices Network. Each episode offers sharp analysis and commentary on the trends, ideas and people shaping the global accounting profession.

Through this Accounting Voices Podcast, Rob helps accounting firm leaders, decision makers and professionals stay relevant and make sense of disruption in areas like AI, automation, M&A, private equity and soft skills beyond the tech. His perspective blends clarity, insight and curiosity, making complex issues relevant and practical for professionals and decision makers across accounting and finance.

He also leads two monthly panel shows, Accounting M&A and Accounting AI, which bring together senior voices to explore consolidation, strategy and the impact of technology on firms and people.

Rob is the author of the bestselling book Build Your Reputation (Wiley) and a TEDx speaker whose talk The Personal Brand of You has more than 400,000 views. Over his career he has hosted and moderated more than 1,000 conversations with accounting and fintech leaders worldwide.

Based in Nottingham UK, Rob is a stroke survivor living with epilepsy, a black belt in kickboxing, a decent chess player and an average player of four musical instruments.